Punjab announces admission schedule in private medical, dental colleges

LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has announced the admission schedule for private medical and dental colleges in Punjab for the 2026–27 academic session, with applications for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programmes opening on October 23.

According to the schedule issued by UHS, applications for MBBS admissions will be accepted until November 6, while the first selection list for private medical colleges will be published on November 18.

Applications for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes will be received from December 18 to January 1, 2027. The first selection list for private dental colleges will be announced on January 13, 2027, a UHS spokesperson said.

Admissions to private medical and dental colleges will be conducted under the Punjab government’s centralised admission policy, with UHS responsible for managing the process.

The spokesperson said that Punjab has 34 private medical colleges offering 4,500 MBBS seats and 18 private dental colleges with a total of 1,100 BDS seats.

Students from all provinces of Pakistan, as well as overseas Pakistanis, are eligible to apply, subject to the prescribed admission criteria.

The centralised system is intended to ensure that admissions are conducted under a uniform provincial policy rather than through separate admission processes operated independently by individual colleges.

The Punjab government has already issued its admission policy for the 2026–27 academic session, outlining eligibility requirements, merit calculations and procedures for public and private medical and dental institutions.

Under the notified policy, the merit formula assigns 50 per cent weightage to the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), 40 per cent to FSc Pre-Medical or an equivalent qualification, and 10 per cent to matriculation or an equivalent qualification. Passing the MDCAT and meeting the minimum academic requirements are mandatory for eligibility.

Candidates will apply through the centralised online system and must provide the required academic records and supporting documents.

Applicants have been advised to check the official UHS admission portal for the prospectus, application requirements and subsequent selection lists.

The announcement comes as thousands of students prepare to compete for places in private medical and dental institutions across the province.

Earlier in September, more than 138,000 candidates appeared in the MDCAT 2026 across Pakistan and at an international centre in Riyadh, with the examination conducted under heightened security following previous concerns over paper leaks.

Earlier, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had exempted Pakistani students seeking admission to undergraduate medical and dental institutions abroad from the mandatory MDCAT.

The decision was taken by the PMDC Council at its meeting on September 14, according to a public notice issued by the council on Monday.

Under the revised policy, Pakistani students seeking admission to medical and dental institutions abroad will no longer be required to pass the MDCAT conducted in Pakistan.